Dallas Stars Blog

Dallas Stars left wing Loui Eriksson (21) gathers in a loose puck in front of Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne (8) during the first period of a NHL ice hockey game between the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in Dallas. (John F. Rhodes / Special Contributor)

BOSTON — Former Stars forward Loui Eriksson looked great at the morning skate and Boston coach Claude Julien said Eriksson would definitely return to play tonight from a concussion that has kept him out for five games. Eriksson was on the receiving end of a blindside hit from Buffalo’s John Scott on Oct. 23. Scott was given a seven-game suspension for the play.

Eriksson said he feels good.

“Yeah, like normal,” he said. “I’ve had a few days to skate here, and I’m ready to get back in.”

He said he believes he is forming chemistry with center Patrice Bergeron.

“Just before I went out, the two or three games before, it felt good for us,” Eriksson said. “You hope you can get that back quickly.”

The two have not been scoring. Bergeron has 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 13 games. Eriksson has 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 8 games. However, Eriksson is plus-3 and Bergeron is plus-2, and they usually play against the other team’s best line.

That could make for an interesting match-up tonight, as Bergeron will probably go head-to-head with Tyler Seguin, who is returning to face his old team.

Here’s Lindy Ruff talking about the challenge of Seguin facing the Bruins and the hostile crowd.

“I am more interested in the team’s challenge than I am in just Tyler’s challenge,” Ruff said. “It’s sometimes an emotional, tough moment when you are coming back to a team. He won a Cup with this team, he’s obviously got a lot of good friends obviously on the other side, and it’s not an easy game a lot of times. But I am more interested in how our team is going to play than individually looking at one guy.”

The lines will probably look something like this:

BOSTON

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jarome Iginla

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Loui Eriksson

Carl Soderberg-Chris Kelly-Reilly Smith

Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk

Dennis Seidenberg-Dougie Hamilton

Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid

Tuukka Rask

STARS

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Valeri Nichushkin

Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Alex Chiasson

Rich Peverley-Vern Fiddler-Erik Cole

Antoine Roussel-Shawn Horcoff-Ryan Garbutt

Brenden Dillon-Stephane Robidas

Trevor Daley-Sergei Gonchar

Alex Goligoski-Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen

It’s worth noting that Seguin has won 37.0 percent of his faceoffs and is coming of a game in which he went 1-for-14. Bergeron, meanwhile, has won 60.4 percent of his draws.

Benn is at 63.8 percent on his faceoffs, so he will be an interesting option.

In addition, Lindy Ruff seems happy with 18-year-old rookie Valeri Nichushkin on the top line, and will leave him up there.

“Obviously, his play warranted putting him where I put him. He played his best game by far last game,” Ruff said. “It really is all about the roller coaster ride that some young players go on. He’s on his way up, and we hope we can keep him there, but there’s probably a guarantee that we’ll have to pick him up at some time again.”

Nichushkin scored his first NHL goal in a 4-3 shootout win at Ottawa, and had three shots on goal in 19:29 of ice time.

“I thought by far our best skater, and probably our best player in the game,” Ruff said.

It also seemed as if Ruff was juggling his No. 3 and 4 centers the past few practices. It appeared he had Vern Fiddler with Peverley and Cole this morning, and he played Fiddler 14:13 against Ottawa. Shawn Horcoff seems to be sliding to the fourth line. he played 10:33 vs. Ottawa.

Two guys who are fading into the media background behind Seguin and Eriksson are Rich Peverley and Reilly Smith. They also were a big part of that Fourth of July trade. Peverley won a Stanley cup with the Bruins, so this game is important to him.

“Definitely,” Peverley said when asked if this return is bigger than ones he has made in other cities. “I won a Cup here, and that stays with you forever, and I have a lot of friends here. It’s going to be a good game.”

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